Blog

Take care with Easter Treats!

Posted By: Nat - Vet Nurse, 11Apr

Spring is upon us and the Easter holiday is fast approaching and lots of chocolatey treats will be lining up ready to consume in excess. However humans are not the only ones with a sweet tooth, chocolate toxicity percentages in dogs rise over the Easter period and dogs are usually admitted to induce vomiting (if ingested within the first 3 hours)....

Caring for our Elderly Feline Friends

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 8Apr

Here at Shepton and Wells vets we see and treat cats of all different life stages, ranging from kittens to our elderly companions. Each life stage brings different challenges and considerations, none more so than when our feline friends are entering their latter years. We work a lot in partnership with cats protection (CP) who frequently bring in elderly...

Nurse Nat's favorite clinics

Posted By: Nat - Vet Nurse, 4Apr

With the new Wells Surgery in full flow, it has been wonderful to see both new and existing clients setting foot into the practice with their pets. Our Nurse Clinics provide a service for patients, from clipping nails, to vaccinations but also for our clients as we can listen and advise them on their pet’s health and wellbeing. My...

Nigel the terrier had calcium overload

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 29Mar

Calcium is known to be an important mineral in the body, for healthy bones as well as nerve and muscle function.The circulating levels for this reason are well controlled, and it can be a real danger if levels drop, but as much loved patterdale cross Nigel experienced, high calcium can also cause its own problems.
Nigel is an older chap, and although...

Investing in the future

Posted By: Oliver - Farm Vet, 22Mar

It’s springtime on the farm, and the idyllic picture of lambs in the fields is starting to appear. It’s also a time when some of our dairy farms calve all their cows, but in fact for most this is an all year round job. New born calves are the future of the dairy herd and farmers know investing in them today will have long-term benefits....

One big extraction

Posted By: Louisa - Vet, 15Mar

Toothache in our pets is a difficult one for both owners and vets to assess. Often cats and dogs will still have a hearty appetite and will simply learn to eat around the painful tooth and avoid the crunchy bits, much like you and I. The causes of toothache in cats and dogs most typically are associated with plaque build up which causes an inflammation...

Diagnosing Addison’s disease

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 8Mar

Logan has had an eventful life – he was rescued from Crete at about 4 months old and landed on his paws with a loving home. We first met him when he was approximately 5 months old and he was very healthy then. His first few months in the UK were uneventful but then he quite quickly became unwell.
Initially it looked like he had gastritis (stomach...

Gin's long, long road to recovery

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 1Mar

I’d like to say that nothing is a surprise to us in our job – that we always have full knowledge and control of all that is right and wrong with our patients. However, the truth is very different, and the only part of our job that I am now not surprised by is when our patients do things that completely baffle and confuse us. In fact, this...

Teg has a mass on his spleen

Posted By: Sarah - Vet, 22Feb

When Teg came in to see us at the end of November, it seemed that he was just suffering from a nasty upset tummy. He wasn’t quite himself but there was nothing to make us worry too much about him. He was treated with some paste containing gut-friendly bacteria to try and settle the problem down, but was no better the next day and had started...

AJ’s cancer scare leads to castration

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 15Feb

Neutering, or castration for male dogs specifically, is a routine operation carried out regularly at veterinary practices. Castration is usually performed preventatively, to reduce or eliminate the risk of developing testosterone driven diseases, as well as for behavioural reasons and preventing unwanted pregnancies. However this surgery is also a...

Treating your dogs itchy ears

Posted By: Polly - Vet, 8Feb

Does your dog get itchy ears? Romeo, pictured here, saw Polly the vet at our Wells practice recently with just that problem, clinically called Otitis Externa. It’s very common in dogs. Sometimes we treat it with antibiotics, but in fact that is far from the first line of treatment.
Primary infections in the ears in dogs are actually...

Spleen removal saves life

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 1Feb

Emergency surgeries are commonly performed both at our Shepton practice and Wells branch, and are some of the most satisfying treatments we do when the animal operated on recovers and is able to go home, especially following a caesarean when they have puppies or kittens in tow! Equally however, they can also be some of the most disappointing,...

Dexter's change in appearance causes concern

Posted By: Gudi - Vet, 25Jan

When a worried owner comes to see us because something is not right with their pet, it can be really rewarding to make an accurate diagnosis, and even more so to correct the problem. We always aim to do both of these if we can. Occasionally, however, we can neither pin down the cause of the problem nor solve it, and yet the outcome is still good. Our...

Billy needs help to control his itchy skin

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 11Jan

Billy is a lovely little West Highland White Terrier cross now just over 2 and a half years old. He is lively and loves life and has no health issues. When he was around 2 years old, however, he developed an itchy bottom which did not settle with supportive treatment.
We were suspicious that this was a result of allergic skin disease. Dogs...

Getting Ready for Lambing

Posted By: Bibby - Farm Vet, 7Jan

We had an amazing summer, lovely and sunny and very dry. Now that the nights have drawn in and it’s colder, those sunny days seem like a distant memory.
It’s easy to forget about summer now that we’re starting to get busy with our winter jobs. Sheep work is very seasonal. For our sheep farmers to get the most out of their...

Luna has Hyperthyroidism

Posted By: Louisa - Vet, 27Dec

Meet Luna, a beautiful tortoiseshell domestic short haired cat, who was adopted by her owners from Happy Landings when she was a kitten, 10 years ago. A few months ago, Luna’s observant owners noticed that she was ravenously hungry all the time and despite this, was rapidly losing weight which prompted them to bring her into the surgery for a...

Buddy’s Bottom trouble

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 20Dec

Looking at your pet’s poo isn’t always the most glamorous of jobs for you or us, but it can be very important in determining the overall health of their digestive system. Different colours can give an indication if the digestive system is working too quickly, underlying liver or pancreatic disease, if any bleeding is present, and more!...

Time to Prepare For Pet Travel Plans

Posted By: Gudi - Vet, 17Dec

In the midst of the festive season, summer holidays may be the last thing on our minds, but it won’t be long before many of us are planning our annual break for 2019. And for many pet owners, a holiday is just not a holiday without the dog or cat. However, with potential changes to pet travel regulations on the horizon, it seems we may need to...

A Monstrous Story

Posted By: Polly - Vet, 7Dec

It was a beautiful, blustery Spring day in Cornwall. My husband and I were walking our Boxer dog along the coast path behind the beach near Padstow. Lots of other families were making the most of the good weather too, and Monster soon found a little Jack Russell terrier to play with. They darted back and forth, one chasing the other, then swapping...

December Pet of the Month: Philip

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 1Dec

Elderly cats often need to be cared for and monitored more closely in their twilight years compared to their younger more care free days. When cats reach the milestone of 11 years old, they are classed as a ‘senior’ patient and can be vulnerable to several age related conditions such as hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus,...

Keeping your small furries warm this winter

Posted By: Nat - Vet Nurse, 26Nov

Before bunnies and Guinea pigs became domesticated and were in the wild, they would burrow underground to stay warm with all of their friends and huddle in groups to share body heat. Many of our small furry friends face a cold spell over the winter months alone at the bottom of the garden. There fore we want to share some tips for keeping your...

The Dangers of Rat Poison

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 23Nov

Many dogs love to try out all sorts of different things with their mouths and this can often lead to them ingesting substances which shouldn’t be ingested.The most common examples we see include chocolate, onions, toys, socks, plastics, the list goes on….!
Cats tend to be a bit more sensible although even so we will occasionally see...

Keeping Chickens

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 16Nov

Chickens can make great pets as well as providing eggs. A small flock of 2 to 10 can easily be kept in even a small garden providing they are not specifically prohibited (as may apply to new housing estates). Providing they have a safe place to nest at night & a secure area to potter around to allow normal behaviour such as pecking and scratching,...

A very abnormal day

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 5Nov

One thing that certainly appeals about the job of a veterinary surgeon is the varied nature of the role. Just as with any job, there are plenty of routine, day-to-day procedures, but we always know that our day can be turned upside down at any point if something unexpected crops up. This can make the job stressful of course, but also very satisfying...

November Pet of the Month: Spotty

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 1Nov

As all dog lovers know, no two dogs are the same. In fact, on of the endearing features of the species is that domestic dogs come in so many different shapes and sizes, as well as a huge variation in temperament, coat types and colours. So no matter what your feelings, there is generally a dog, pedigree or cross, to suit you. However, there are often...

Types of over the counter products that can help your pet cope with fireworks

Posted By: Polly - Vet, 31Oct

We offer a variety of products to help your pets cope with the fear and anxiety that can be caused by fireworks.
Here’s a summary of what is available to you without prescription.
If you know your pet is very frightened by fireworks, it might be more appropriate to prescribe him or her a sedative for fireworks night. If in doubt, make an...

Top tips for keeping your pets happy and safe during fireworks season

Posted By: Polly - Vet, 29Oct

As nights draw in, we look forward to the autumn fun of events like Halloween and Bonfire Night. Early evenings are perfect for these occasions but can be a nightmare for our pets.
We have put together a few top tips to help your dogs get through the firework season.
There are many products and training methods available which can...

How does your Tortoise weigh up?

Posted By: Sue - Veterinary Nurse, 26Oct

As the days get shorter and the nights colder, tortoises are slowing down, in some cases they have stopped eating and are already in pre-hibernation wind down. The exceptionally warm weather recently had some of them eating again, delaying the process for a few more weeks. The exceptionally hot Summer has been good for tortoises,...

Barney needs help with a lump

Posted By: Gudi - Vet, 19Oct

Lumps and bumps are a common reason for dog owners to come and see us at the practice. Many dogs live with the odd warty growth or fatty lump for years – we get used to their size and character and check them at each visit. Nevertheless, when an owner discovers a newly appeared lump on their dog it can be a real worry, so they are keen to have...

Bull MOT

Posted By: Charlie - Farm Vet, 12Oct

This week I was out on a farm, giving some special attention to one of the most important animals on any cattle farm – the bull!
Bulls need this special attention, particularly if they reside on beef farms, as once per year they have an incredibly important job to do. They are tasked with getting all of the cows (or as I like to call them,...

October Pet of the Month: Theo

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 1Oct

Theo is a 10 year old male neutered Weimaraner. One Friday evening he had enjoyed his dinner as normal but, within a few hours, it became clear that he was feeling really unwell. He was retching and trying to be sick and his abdomen was swelling up.
As soon as his owners realised that he was ill, they rang our out of hours service and we immediately...

Ollie & Tashi cause their owners concern

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 28Sep

When owners need to bring their pets to see us, we know it can be a stressful time. We understand that, in all honesty, our clients would rather not be at the vets with a poorly pet. So we hope these upsetting episodes are single, isolated events that we can make as low-stress as possible and deal with as a one-off. However, the owners of Tashi and...

September Pet of the Month: Lady Hamilton

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 21Sep

The long hot summer heatwave may have caused different reactions among the population earlier in the year, but amongst tortoises, the warm, dry weather provoked a perhaps unexpected response – rampant non-stop breeding behaviour as the conditions were perfect for their reproductive activity.
Lady Hamilton the tortoise, or Emma to her friends,...

Complicated case of immune system over activity

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 14Sep

Almost all breeds of animals are prone to developing certain conditions throughout their life due to the specific genetics of individual breeds. For example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels often develop heart murmurs in their old age, and Persian cats may be more likely to develop kidney issues at a young age. The unusually named Nova Scotia Duck Tolling...

Betty takes an interest in Grandpa's medication

Posted By: Gudi - Vet, 7Sep

In the everyday life of a small animal vet, “have they eaten anything they shouldn’t have?” and “have any toys or items gone missing from the house?” are very common questions, certainly when dealing with dogs. We find that most dogs fall into one of two main types. There is the first type – highly discerning,...

What it's like to be a new vet at Shepton Vets

Posted By: Louisa - Vet, 31Aug

Just over one month ago, I embarked on a very exciting journey; a new home, in a new town with a new job at the Vets after quite literally a lifetime in education!
Walking to work in glorious Shepton sunshine one Monday morning, I was filled with nervous excitement of what was about to be and eager to get stuck in.
Since then I have met and examined...

Dealing with Problematic grass seeds

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 24Aug

[Text Box: The 4 grass seeds removed from Barney’s ear. Notice the long strands which often prevent backwards movement of the seeds.] As all dog and cat owners know, this time of year is rife with potential problems our companions encounter from their outdoor activities. During the summer months when dog walking is at its highest and they are...

Should I get pet insurance?

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 17Aug

The options in veterinary medicine have progressed and improved hugely in recent years and, whilst not appropriate in all circumstances, advanced diagnostics and surgery are now available. With this comes increased costs and specialist treatment can easily run to several thousand pounds.
Accidents, injuries and illnesses often come ‘out of...

Anna trains farmers in Africa with Send a Cow

Posted By: Anna - Farm Vet, 3Aug

Shepton Vets is a member of XLVets; this means it is part of a group of 50 or so independently owned veterinary practices that work together, sharing knowledge and experience. One of the great things about working for a practice that is a member of XLVets is the opportunities that arise as a result of being part of this large community of vets.
I...

August Pet of the Month: Crumble

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 1Aug

Siamese cats are well known for their chatty personality, with a loud miaow asking for attention and affection as often as possible! So when Crumble the 11 year old Siamese started losing his voice and sparkle during a bout of sickness, everyone was determined to bring it back for him.
Unfortunately Crumble was no stranger to illness and had spent...

When a kitten gets caught up in a cat fight…

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 27Jul

Cat fights are a common result of a large amount of cats in a small residential area, so related injuries are often seen at the vets. However Freckles’ case was a lot more unusual than most – because of the severity of the injuries, and also because she was caught in the crossfire!
Freckles had only just started venturing outdoors after...

Tetley has a sore eye

Posted By: Sarah - Vet, 20Jul

We quite often see dogs and cats with sore eyes at the surgery, and the cause can vary from a mild conjunctivitis to a serious problem that can even lead to the loss of an eye so they always warrant a check .
Recently, Vet Josh saw Tetley who is a sprightly older gentleman, with an uncomfortable eye caused by a corneal ulcer. The cornea is the clear...

Samson has a retained testicle

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 13Jul

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a vet is meeting the adorable new puppies and kittens that visit us, and getting the chance to give them a healthy start in life. Getting their healthcare right from the very beginning is essential, helping to prevent problems occurring in the future. As well as being a lot of fun, it’s also...

July Pet of the Month:Butch

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 1Jul

Owners know their animals better than anyone, and they certainly know when their pets aren't feeling quite right. In fact many people bring their pets in to us because they feel they' just aren't themselves', or they are 'not quite right'; it is then our job as best we can to work out what might be going on and get them back...

Charly gets into trouble on the farm

Posted By: Gudi - Vet, 29Jun

In a busy mixed practice, we have to expect that the phone can ring at any moment with an emergency. And when it’s our farm office that receives an urgent call from a farmer, we can usually be pretty sure the problem is with a cow or a sheep. But this was not the case with the call that started this story, and the result required collaboration...

Megan needs surgery for a uterine infection

Posted By: Lynn Broom, 22Jun

You know your own dog and you know when something isn’t normal. Megan’s owners realised she had not been ‘quite right’ since her season started 3 weeks previously.
Megan was a bit quiet and off her food. She was drinking more and had more discharge than was normal at this stage. She had a slightly raised temperature...

Flystrike

Posted By: Faye - Vet Nurse, 15Jun

It has finally got to that time of year where we can start to enjoy a little bit of sunshine. However, as the warmer months approach, spare a thought for any indoor and outdoor rabbits.
Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK after cats and dogs; however their health and welfare needs are often very much misunderstood.
During the summer...

Merlin and his many trips to the vets

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 8Jun

Dalamatians are an unmistakeable and much loved breed, but seven year old Merlin is definitely a familiar and recognisable face at the practice due to his regular visits because of various ailments over the past few years. As if having a spinal problem in his neck wasn’t enough, Merlin then had problems going to the toilet that resulted in surgery,...

June Pet of the Month: Stanley

Posted By: Josh - Vet, 1Jun

Puppies are extremely inquisitive and curious, and as such will often eat things they shouldn’t do (as many owners know all too well!). Because of this it is not unusual for us to see many puppies for digestive upsets such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
When Stanley, a 5 and a half month old Cocker Spaniel, initially presented with diarrhoea...

Thomas the Dachshund

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 25May

There are several different ways of taking on a pet. Many do research for weeks or months, and then find the most appropriate breed for them at their local rescue centre or from a breeder. Equally others fall into it, as fate plays its part. The owner of Thomas however is one of those incredibly kind soles that takes on pets when...

A farm vets view

Posted By: Rob - Farm Vet, 18May

I have been enjoying the sunshine over the last couple of weeks; it is amazing how quickly things change. The young lambs are running around the fields and lots of beef and dairy cattle are out grazing. This gives some of our clients a small break from all the winter work of bedding up cattle, cleaning them out and feeding them. Several of the beef...

Murphy needs help with a dislocated jaw

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 4May

Waking up at the weekend after a hard week at work usually brings the possibility of relaxation – perhaps a lie-in, a leisurely coffee and a bit of time to yourself. However, as the owners of Murphy, a five year old cat, awoke one Saturday morning they did not get the relaxing start to the weekend that they were looking forward to. Instead they...

May Pet of the Month: Arry

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 1May

Birds don’t make up a very large number of our patients at the practice, which makes their visits and appointments all the more interesting. One avian patient that we have grown accustomed to welcoming to the surgery is a 20 year old African Grey parrot – affectionately known as ‘Arry! Having arrived with a history of medical issues,...

April Pet of the Month: Oscar

Posted By: Greg - Vet, 1Apr

Oscar is a rather handsome young Persian and knows it all too well! When he’s not sitting looking pretty he loves nothing more to lie around in the lap of luxury, enjoying the best of a cat’s life. However it came as a shock to him one day when he became ill and was scooped up to be taken into the vets. Oscar ended up with an emergency...

March Pet of the Month: Garfield

Posted By: Ellen - Vet, 1Mar

On the Saturday morning after ‘The Beast from the East’ had hit Somerset, a small team battled their way into the practice, expecting at least a few emergency patients in need of help. One definite emergency was Garfield the cat. Garfield had been off colour for a couple of days and during the last 24 hours had not been seen to urinate...

February Pet of the Month: Bella

Posted By: Martin - Vet, 1Feb

Going for a walk with your dog on a Sunday is part of our culture, even if your dog is a 1.9kg toy breed. Bella the lively 1.9kg Chihuahua cross Pomeranian was enjoying her weekend activities, as any dog would, when a freak fall caused a lot of stress for her and her owner.
One minute Bella was fine and then she let out a shriek and was instantly...

January Pet of the Month: Roxy

Posted By: Ellen - Vet, 1Jan

As our dogs get older unfortunately we accept they may develop more health problems. Roxy is one such patient. She is a lovely 12 year old Doberman who came to see us almost a year ago now. She is generally a very fit and well girl who looked great for her age. Her owners bought her in when they noticed she was drinking more and generally a bit off...